Beginning at a Rural Hospital in Jamestown, North Dakota
My first job in healthcare was as an administrative assistant in the Physical Therapy Department in a rural hospital in Jamestown, ND. After a few months on the job they asked if I would also help out at a PT Aide and that is when I fell in love with the medical field. I learned anatomy and physiology hands on and that experience provided me with a wealth of knowledge. I also learned the importance of treating patients with care and respect, especially when they were hurting or struggling to regain their independence. While working in the rehab department we were audited by Medicare and the outcome was not favorable. The department was placed on a three year audit review and it was at that time, I was asked to help with billing, obtaining authorizations and coding. The knowledge I gained in those ten years, has helped me in so many ways.
How I Used My Medical Coding Research to Improve Reimbursement for My Employer
I started with my current employer in 2000, as an A/R Specialist, and after about 6 months they informed me that I would be updating patient demographics and entering charges for the providers, as well as A/R. I researched CPT codes as I was posting charges and found multiple codes that were being using inappropriately.
I worked with the lead physician in the office and explained that we could code and bill this or that and he would look at me with a look of doubt. Each time I would show him the documentation, post the charges, wait for reimbursement and then show him the explanation of benefits from the payer. Little by little they began to trust me and reimbursement improved. Within a year, I was asked to move to the corporate office and become the lead for centralized demographic entry.
Getting CPC Certified
Over the next six months they started to bring the charge entry and A/R into the corporate office and I became the Central Office Supervisor. It was at this time that I learned of the CPC certification and the importance of accurate coding. I enrolled in the AAPC self-study course and after six months of studying, decided to sit for the CPC certification. At that time if took 6 weeks to learn if you passed or failed. To my relief, I passed on the first try. I was later promoted to Assistant Manager, Manager and then to my current position as Operations Manager of the Billing Office.
I have had the opportunity to watch our business office grow as we added additional offices and specialists to our company. A few years ago the decision was made to implement an EHR and at that time the CEO proposed to the providers, the option of having certified coders audit and code the level of care for each visit. With this decision, our coding department was formed. We now have 13 certified coders and one HCC coder. The last 5 coders hired were CPC-A’s, so there are people hiring new coders. We have hired several coders that graduated from Linda’s class and everyone one of them has done an amazing job.
My Advice to New Medical Coders
My advice to new coders – don’t give up as doors will open. Once you have a job, put your focus on your job while you are at work, never stop learning, always strive to learn more, and help others as needed. It may take a few years for a position to open that furthers your career, but it will happen. Who knows, one day you could be the supervisor of the coding department or the Operations Manager for a large medical group. With hard work and determination, anything is possible.
Deb Lewis CPC, CMM
COS Operations Manager
